Apparatus for opening folded bound multiple sheet paper products

ABSTRACT

There is disclosed an apparatus for opening folded, bound, multiple-sheet paper products which are continuously advanced or conveyed at a spacing from one another at a conveying device. According to the invention, there are provided two driven entrainment members which act at opposite flat sides of the paper products, and wherein the paths of movement of these entrainment members are at least partially disposed in the conveying plane, enclose an acute angle with respect to one another, and possess a directional component which coincides with the conveying direction.

United States Patent [191 Wetter 1 Mar. 27, 1973 [54] APPARATUS FOR OPENING FOLDED,

BOUND, MULTIPLE-SHEET PAPER [21] Appl. No.: 101,456

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data 2,279,269 7/1942 Tomberg ..270/57 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 403,81 1 6/1965 Switzerland Primary Examiner-Robert W. Michell Assistant Examiner--L. R. Oremland Attorney-George F. Dvorak, Stephen T. Skrydlak and Marden S. Gordon [57] ABSTRACT There is disclosed an apparatus for opening folded, bound, multiple-sheet paper products which are con- Jan. 9, 1970 Switzerland ..278/70 tinuously advanced or conveyed at a spacing from one another at a conveying device. According to the in- [52] US. Cl ..270/57, 270/54 v tion ther are provided two driven entrainment [5 Int- Cl. ..B65h members ac at opposite flat sides of the paper [58] Field of Search ..270/54, 55, 57 products and wherein the paths f movement of these I entrainment members are at least partially disposed in [56] References Cited the conveying plane, enclose an acute angle with UNITED STATES PATENTS respect to one another, and possess a directional component which coincides with the conveying direction. 3,595,560 7/1971 Hannon et a1. ..270/57 908,469 1/1909 La Sor ..270/57 11 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures i i l 57 2 8 I I I i I r 2/ 2/ 27 i J I 2 l ,i 54 )1 Patented March 27, 1973 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Patented March 27, 1973 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented March 27, 1973 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 HUI I Patented March 27, 1973 3,722,877

5 Sheets-Sheet 5 APPARATUS FOR OPENING FOLDED, BOUND, MULTIPLE-SHEET PAPER PRODUCTS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a new and improved apparatus for opening folded, bound, multiple-sheet paper products which are continuously conveyed at a spacing from one another while bearing against a conveying device.

In the context of this application, the term paper products," or equivalent expressions, is especially intended to connote all types of printed products, such as for instance, newspapers, periodicals, advertising brochures, circulars, but also stationery such as notebooks, writing pads, and the like.

These paper products oftentimes must be provided with a loose insert. In the case of newspapers, for instance, the so-called initial printed section which has been printed in time prior to the last printed so-called main section must be inserted in the main section in order so that there is present a complete newspaper.

In the case of magazines, periodicals, and newspapers oftentimes loose order cards or blanks, advertisement sheets or payment cards must be inserted, in the case of notebooks it may be desirable to insert blotters, in advertising literature and catalogues, order cards or forms and/or price lists.

A precondition for the insertion, especially the automatic insertion of such inserts into such type paper products, is the opening thereof. The present invention therefore relates to an apparatus which serves this purpose.

Constructions of apparatuses serving the same purpose and of the heretofore mentioned general character are already known to the art. In accordance with one state-of-the-art type of equipment, as taught in Swiss Patent 358,444, the conveying device is constructed in the form of a conveyor band possessing projections. The paper products with the fold or with the bound back at the conveyor band is forwardly advanced in upright position by means of the projections parallel to the fold or back, respectively. In order to be able to guide the products in an upright position, there are provided guide rails in the form of a handrail along which slide both flat surfaces or faces of the paper products. At a certain location of the conveying path, the products 'travel between two stationarily arranged press rolls acting upon opposite flat surfaces of the products, while at this location the conveyor band ekperiences a deflection towards the press or contact rolls.

Consequently, the paper products are dammed-up and as a consequence of this damming action, the products should bow-out to both sides of the back or fold. This bowing or bulging action to which the paper product are subjected, opens same and during the course of the'further conveying of the products, a subsequently arranged stationary opening wedge penetrates into this opening. This known type of prior art apparatus possesses certain drawbacks. Firstly, it is only' suitable for such products which themselves are sufficiently stiff in order to be placed in upright position and conveyed only while standing upon a small end or side thereof, and without collapsing and thus slipping-out of the guide rails. Secondly, due to the deflection of the conveyor'b and, it is not always positively ensured that the printed products will bow-out to both sides and not merely foldor knick-in at one side, which if such should occur results in the product travelling past one side of the opening wedge without being opened. Finally, the opening of the products with the known apparatus in any case is limited to that location of the product at which the product when dammed-up will most likely divide, that is to say, generally in the middle.

Further types of apparatuses for opening multi-sheet paper products are also known to the art. A portion of these known constructions operate with separation knives and subsequently arranged separation wedges which engage into the cutting edge of the products. However, these prior art constructions of apparatus do not render it possible to always positively achieve the same opening location, quite apart from the fact that the cut edges of the sheets engaged by the separation knife are subjected to the danger that they will become damaged.

Other forms of prior art equipment operate with suction cups, bringing about opening of the product by lifting the sheets engaged by the suction cups. A major drawback associated with equipment of this type which operates with suction cups is that only those sheets engaged or acted upon by the suction cups will be lifted, limiting quite appreciably the choice of the place where the product can be opened.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, there is still present a real need in the art for equipment of the aforementioned type which is not associated with the drawbacks of the prior art constructions. Therefore, a primary objective of the present invention is concerned with the provision of an improved type of apparatus for opening paper products which is not associated with the aforementioned drawbacks of the prior art constructions and which effectively and reliably fulfills the existing need in the art.-

Still a further significant object of the present invention relates to an apparatus of the heretofore mentionedcharacter which not only renders possible a continuous mode of operation, rather also provides extensive reliability in operation and additionally can function practically independently of the total thickness of the products.

Yet a further significant object of the present invention relates to an improved apparatus for the opening of paper products in a highly reliable and effective manner, without any great possibility of damaging the products being processed, and wherein the apparatus itself is relatively simple in construction, economical to manufacture, robust, not readily subject to breakdown, and requires a minimum of maintenance and servicing.

The'instant invention is predicated upon the recognition that the paper products which are to be opened can be compared to a stack at one side of which, namely the side of the fold or the back, all of the sheets of the product do not have any possibility of deviating, and therefore, by displacing a certain number of sheets with respect to the remaining sheets, a portion of the product will automatically bulge-out, and specifically only towards one side, so that there exists an initial opening and therefore first the point of attack which renders possible a complete opening of the product, with subsequent insertion of the insert.

Therefore, a primary objective of the present invention resides in constructing the proposed apparatus in such a manner that the bowing or bulging-out of the product automatically occurs by displacing a certain number of sheets.

Now, in order to effectively solve this objective, there is proposed an apparatus construction of the aforementioned general type which, according to the invention, is manifested by the features that two driven entrainment means act upon opposite flat faces or sides of the paper products, the paths of movement of such entrainment'means at least partially being disposed in the plane of conveying, and enclose with respect to one another an acute angle and possess a directional component which coincides with the direction of conveymg.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above, will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a simplified schematic side view of an embodiment of inventive apparatus;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the apparatus depicted in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an end view, partially in section taken along the line IIIIII of FIG. 2, of the apparatus depicted in FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of a portion of the apparatus shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 for purposes of explaining its mode of operation;

FIG. 5 is a simplified end view of a modified version of the inventive apparatus; and

FIGS. 6 to 9 inclusive illustrate an embodiment of the inventive apparatus for opening paper products arranged along a production line, wherein the individual FIGS. 6, 7, 8 and 9 illustrate different stages in the operation and the corresponding positions of the relevant components of the apparatus structure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Describing now the drawings, in the exemplary embodiment of the inventive apparatus depicted in FIGS. 1 to 3, there will be recognized a conveying device or mechanism 1 which, in turn, embodies a slide plate or track 2 inclined at about with respect to the vertical. Bounding at the lower longitudinal edge 3 of the slide track 2 and disposed together with such in one plane is a conveyor band 4 trained about a drive roller 5 and about a freely rotatable deflecting roller 6. The drive roller 5 is rigidly mounted for rotation upon a shaft member 8 supported in the bearings 7. Shaft member 8 carries a bevel gear 9 at its free end, this bevel gear 9 meshing with a suitable bevel gear 10 mounted at one end of an intermediate shaft 12 supported in bearings 11. The intermediate shaft 12 is coupled through the agency of a sprocket wheel 13 and a sprocket chain 14 with a drive sprocket wheel or gear 15. Sprocket wheel 15, in turn, is seated upon a drive shaft 17 mounted in bearing 16. The drive shaft 17 is operably connected with any suitable and therefore non-illustrated drive motor, for instance, a transmission motor, through the agency of a sprocket wheel I8 and a chain 19.

An impact or contact rail member 20 is provided at the side edge of the conveyor band 4 situated opposite the slide track 2. Hence the slide track 2, the conveyor band 4 and the impact rail 20 form, to a certain extent, a substantially L-shaped conveying trough in which the paper products, here shown in the form of newspapers Z, are conveyed in FIGS. 1 and 2 from the left towards the right by means of mechanism still to be described further hereinafter. The newspapers Z are delivered to the above-discussed conveying trough at the left side thereof depicted in FIGS. 1 and 2 in any optional manner. Hence, for instance, as illustrated in FIG. 1, the newspapers can move from above through an infeed location bounded by rails or conveyor bands 21. The impact rail 20 does not extend over the entire length of the conveyor band 4. The reason for this will be considered and discussed fully hereinafter.

It should be readily apparent and understood that the newspapers within the conveying trough are not solely transported due to the action of the conveyor band 4 since the inherent weight of the newspapers themselves is taken up for the most part by the stationary impact rail 20 and the remaining portion of the inherent weight of such newspapers is partially taken up by the slide track 2 and the conveyor band 4. In any event, with the illustrated apparatus construction under consideration, the frictional forces prevailing between the conveyor band 4 and the newspapers 2 bearing against such conveyor band are not sufficient in order to achieve a conveying action.

By referring now to FIG. 2, it will be seen that opposite the conveyor band 4 and extending parallel to such conveyor band, there is arranged an endless chain member 23 which is guided about a pair of sprocket wheels 22. The endless chain member 23 is equipped at uniform spacing along its surface withresilient contact or press arms 24, 25, and 26, which, in turn, carry a respective roller member 27 at their free ends. The sprocket wheel 22 appearing at the left side of the arrangement of FIG. 2 is mounted upon a shaft member 29 rotatably supported in bearings 28, as best observed by referring to FIG. 3. The shaft member 29 carries a gear 30 meshing with an intermediate gear 31 seated upon a shaft 32. The shaft 32, in turn, is equipped with a sprocket wheel 33 which meshes via a chain 35 with a sprocket wheel or gear 34 seated upon the shaft member 8. From what has been explained above, it will be understood that the chain 23 and the conveyor band 4 possess a common drive arrangement, with the direction of movement and the velocity of the portions of the chain 23 and the conveyor band 4 which are disposed opposite one another being the same.

Additionally, from what has been stated above, it will be also recognized that as soon as one of the contact or press arms, for instance the press arm 25, during its movement through its circular path of travel approaches the conveyor band 4, the roller member or roll 27 of such contact arm 25 will bear against the newspaper located at the infeed side of the conveyor band 4, in this case the newspaper Z, of FIG. 2 and will press such against the travelling conveyor band 4. Consequently, the conveyor band 4 immediately becomes effective in a conveying sense at the relevant newspaper and because the chain 23 at this section of the conveyor band is driven in synchronism with the conveyor band 4 the conveyor band 4 itself continues to exert a conveying action upon such engaged newspaper until the paths of movement of the contact arm 25 and the conveyor band 4 again separate from one another.

Since the contact or press arms 24, 25 and 26, as mentioned above, are distributed at a uniform spacing along the chain element 23 there is likewise ensured that the newspapers will be conveyed at a practically uniform spacing from one another.

As best recognized by referring to FIG. 1, along the course of the conveying path through which moves the conveyor band 4 together with the chain 23 there is formed at the region of the upper edge of the slide plate or track 2 a cutout or recess 36 into which engages an entrainment element in the form of an entrainment band 37. As best seen by referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the run of the entraiment band 37 As best seen by referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the run of the entraiment band 37 facing the observer of FIG. 1 forms together with the slide track 2 a plane. The entraiment band 37 is guided about a drive roller 38 and a deflecting roller 66. The drive roller 38 is seated upon a shaft'39 which is connected in driving relationship via a bevel gear arrangement 40 with an intermediate shaft 41. Shaft 41, in turn, is coupled via a sprocket wheel 42, a chain 43, a sprocket wheel or gear 44, a further intermediate shaft 46 mounted in bearings 45, a bevel gear arrangement 47, 48, a sprocket gear or wheel 49 and a chain 67 with a sprocket wheel 50 seated upon the drive shaft 17. Furthermore, the transmission ratio of this chainand gear drive arrangement is selected such that the entrainment band 37 rotates in the same direction and with the same velocity or speed as the conveyor band 4.

A chain element or member 62 trained about two sprocket wheels 61 and 65 is arranged opposite the entrainment band 37. This chain 62 carries a resilient contact arm 63 which can be designed or constructed similar to the contact arms 24, 25 and 26 of the chain element 23. However, in contrast to the relationship of the chain element 23 with regard to the conveyor band 4, here the chain 62 does not possess the same course of travel with regard to the entraiment band 37. Quite to the contrary, the path of travel of the chain 62 and the entrainment band 37 enclose with respect to one another an acute angle a, as best observed by referring to FIG. 4. The sprocket gears or wheels 61 and 65 are seated upon the shafts 60 and 64, respectively, which, in turn, are further connected or coupled with one another by a pair of sprocket wheels 57 and 59 and a chain 58. The shaft member 60 additionally carries a further sprocket wheel 56 which is operatively coupled with the intermediate shaft 41 through the agency of a chain 55, a sprocket wheel 54, shaft 53 and the bevel gear arrangement 51,52. In this case, the transmission ratio is selected such that the peripheral velocity of the chain 62 corresponds to the peripheral or circumferential velocity of the entrainment band 37 (or the conveyor band 4) divided by cosine a. Furthermore, the total length of the chain 62 corresponds to the spacing which the contact arms 24 and 25 or 25 and 26, or

26 and 24 possess from one another, but likewise divided by cosine a.

From what has been explained above, it should be clear that the chain 62 performs one revolution during exactly that period of time in which the chain 23 is conveyed or passes through the spacing between two of the contact arms 24, 25 and 26.

The contact arm 63 attached to the chain element 62 acts upon a newspaper, in FIG. 1 the newspapers Z passing through between the contact arm 63 and the entrainment band 37, similar to the cooperation of the contact arms 24, 25 and 26 with the conveyor band 4.

In addition thereto, however, a movement component of the contact arm 63 acts upon such newspaper, this movement component extending from above downwardly and perpendicular to the conveying direction. Consequently, the portion of the newspaper influenced by the contact arm 63, in relation to the portion of the newspaper influenced by the entrainment band 37, is displaced downwardly from above, without interruption of the conveying action. Since during this phase of operation, the newspapers continue to bear by means of their main fold or back upon the contact or impact rail member 20, there automatically occurs during this phase of operation a bowing-out of thatportion of the newspaper which is acted upon by the contact arm 63.

The described form of apparatus under consideration will further be understood to be equipped with an opening wedge member 68 arranged after the entrainment band 37, opening wedge 68 possessing a tip portion 69 which can be compared to the bow of a ship and its rearmost location, viewed in the direction of conveying, engages into that zone of the entrainment band member 37 where the newspaper has already been preopened. This can best be observed by referring to FIG. 4.

Continuing, it will be seen that the opening wedge member 68 is arranged at a spacing from the slide plate or track 2 in order to ensure that the portions of the newspaper Z, (cf. FIG. 2) separated from one another can pass without obstructing the stationary opening wedge member 68. Furthermore, at the opening wedge member 68 there is additionally provided a slot 70 which is continuous from the top towards the bottom, slot 70 serving to conveniently receive and guide the insert B, which is to be inserted in each case into the newspaper or other paper product.

It is here to be mentioned and observed that the contact rail 20 possesses such a length that it only extends up to the discharge end of the slot 70. At this location, the conveyed newspaper is no longer supported, which, however, is no longer necessary, since just as was previously the case, here also it is sill clamped between the contact arm 26 and the conveyor band 4, and thus, is prevented from sliding down along the slide track 2 and along the'side surfaces of the opening wedge 68. 7

Additionally, it is to observed that the opening wedge 68 does not overlie the conveyor band 4 so that at its location there is ensured the unobstructed cooperation between the conveyor band 4 and the contact arm which momentarily travels along therewith.

Now, however, as soon as the paths of the conveyor band 4 and the contact arm again separate, which with the arrangement shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 occurs at the region of the deflecting roller 6 of the conveyor band 4, the clamping action exerted upon the newspaper ceases and the newspaper is therefore released, together with the inserted insert 3,, so that it can move transverse to the slide track 2 downwardly, as such has been indicated in FIG. 1 for the newspaper Z with its insert B by the two arrows appearing at the right-hand side of such Figure. At this location, the newspaper Z, now furnished with the insert B can be acted upon by a further apparatus (not shown), for instance, a stacking device or a further conveying device for the articles.

The heretofore described mode of operation is particularly apparent by referring to FIG. 4. In this figure, there will be observed the conveyor band 4 and the contact rail 20. While the contact rail terminates approximately at the illustrated location the illustrated deflecting roller 6 of the conveyor band 4 is only located after the slot 70 formed at the opening wedge 68, only a part of which is represented in FIG. 4. Furthermore, a portion of the chain 23 is represented in FIG. 4, this chain, it will be recalled, carrying the contact arm 26 possessing the roller 27. Both the conveyor band 4 as well as the chain element 23 are driven so as possess the velocity C Additionally, there is also illustrated the entrainment band 37 as well as a portion of the inclined extending and travelling chain 62 cooperating with the entrainment band 37, and as will again be recalled this chain 62 being equipped with the contact arm 63. The entrainment band 37 is likewise driven at the velocity C whereas the velocity of the chain 62 amounts C there existing between these two velocities the relationship which can be expressed by the equation C C,/cos a The component C of the velocity vector C,, which velocity component C extends in the direction of the velocity component C, is thus equal to C whereas the vector C possesses a downwardly directed component C perpendicular to the component C The component C represents the velocity of the relative movement of the contact arm 62 with respect to the band 37, which relative movement is directed transverse to the direction of travel of course of the band 67. In other words, this velocity component represents the velocity with which the portion Z;, of the newspaper Z is displaced with respect to the portion Z" towards the back or fold sliding along upon the impact or contact rail 20.

From what has been stated, it will be apparent that the bowing-out or bulging of the portion Z';, of the newspaper 2 occurs by virtue of a displacement of such portion l, with respect to the newspaper portion Z",, in contrast to the damming-up action previously discussed with regard to prior art equipment.

Although there has been illustrated in the drawings, the manner in which the newspaper Z, has been opened at its central region, it is to be here mentioned and expressly understood that the described equipment renders it also readily possible to open the newspapers at an optional location which can previously be determined for such paper products. To this end, it is sufficient to apply, for instance, a dry lubricant at the location of the newspaper intended for the opening operation, prior to folding thereof,and at the region at which the press or contact arm 63 is intended to be effective. Further details concerning this manner of friction reduction for the purpose of dividing a stack of sheets bearing upon one another can be obtained by reference to Swiss Patent 440,339 or U.S. Pat. No. 3,392,856, in which there has been described a method for dividing a number of at least partially superimposed, surfacecontacting objects at a predetermined location.

Now, in FIG.'5 there is shown a modification of the invention representing a schematic section'taken approximately along the line V-V of FIG. 2. By referring to this figure, there will be recognized the slide plate or track 2, at the upper end of which there merges the entrainment band 37 and at the lower end of which there merges the conveyor band 4. The conveyor band 4, in turn, travels above the contact rail 20. Additionally, it will be recognized that the slide plate or track 2 is provided at the infeed region of the conveyor band 37 with a bulbous or substantially wart-shaped projection onto which travel the newspapers Z during the course of their positive conveying between the conveyor band 4 and the contact arm roller 27. In so doing, the newspaper experiences a slight folding or knicking action extending in the conveying direction and which, first of all, contributes to reinforcing or stiffening the newspapers in the conveying direction and, secondly, initiates the bowing-out of the portion Z of the newspaper even before the contact arm 63 of the chain begins its relative movement with regard to the entrainment band 37, which movement, it will be recalled, is directed towards the contact rail 20. The bulbous projection 71 is advantageously limited in its length of the region between the infeed side of the entrainment band 37 and approximately the center thereof or its end, so that the portion Z of the newspaper which has not been caused to bow-out, owing to its elastic properties, again comes to bear flatly against the slide track 2 before it passes behind the opening wedge 68.

Turning now to the embodiment of inventive apparatus depicted in FIGS. 6 to 9 inclusive, it is to be understood that the components or elements thereof which .correspond in function essentially to the various elements or components of the prior discussed embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 5 inclusive have been conveniently designated, for the most part, with the same reference numerals or characters.

The production line illustrated in FIGS. 6 to 9 comprises a number of infeed compartments or sections 81 and a number of opening compartments or sections 82. The infeed compartments 81 are hingedly connected to one another by the hinge components 83 to form an endless compartmental chain arrangement. In similar manner, the opening compartments or sections 82 are hingedly connected to one another by the hinge elements 84 into a second endless compartmented chain arrangement. Both hinge components 83 and 84 carry entrainment members 8, engaging with non-illustrated chains so that through the action thereof, they are continuously driven in the same direction and with the same velocity adjacent one another. The bottom of each infeed compartment or section 81 is formed by the contact or impact rail member 20, the wall by the slide track 2 and the conveyor band arrangement 4. In each infeed compartment, there is arranged opposite the conveyor band the endless chain 23 travelling over the sprocket wheels 22, at which chain 23, however, there is only secured one contact arm 24 with a press or contact roll 27. Additionally, the revolving or circulatory path of travel of the chain 23 is approximately limited to the length of the contact of impact rail 20.

Since the infeed pockets or compartments 81 are arranged for revolving motion, in this case the drive of the conveyor band arrangement 4 and the chain 23 occurs through the agency of a gear 86 which upon passing the pocket 81 meshes with a segment of a gear rack 87 stationarily secured to the non-depicted frame of the equipment or machinery.

The upper portion of the wall of the opening section or compartment 82 is formed by the entrainment band member 37 and the lower portion thereof by a perpendicularly or upright arranged slide track or plate 90. The floor of the opening compartment is formed by two support plates 91 seated at the free end of a respective pivot arm 92 pivotably mounted in a console 93 secured to the rear side of the slide track 90 of the shaft 109 which, in turn, is rotatably mounted at the drive console 110 stationarily arranged at the machine frame (not shown). The rotational speed of the wedge sector 108 is selected such that it always performs one revolution during such time as there travels past one of the opening compartments.

With the benefit of the foregoing description of the arrangement of FIGS. 6 to 9 inclusive, there will now be considered the mode of operation of this embodiment. Specifically, in FIG. 6, it will be understood that a newspaper Z is delivered from above along the feed track 112 in such a way that the fold of this newspaper leads. The newspaper Z is then deposited into the infeed compartment or section 81 in such a way that it is positioned upright with the fold thereof bearing against the contact or impact rail.

As soon as the contact arm 24, at the chain 23 has travelled around the left-hand situated sprocket wheel '22 and thus acts upon the face or side of the newspaper Z which is visiblein the drawing, then the conveying leg is inclined at the angle a with respect to the direction of travel C of the entrainment band member 37. The other leg of the support 104 is secured to the rear face of the slide track 90. y

The drive of the entrainment band member 37 and the chain 62 originates from a stationary toothed rack segment 97 with which meshes a gear 96. The gear 96 is seated upon a shaft 98 rotatably mounted at the slide track or plate 90. At the other end of the shaft 98 there is secured the drive roller 66 of the band 37, and the other roller 38 of the band 37 is seated upon a shaft member 99 rotatably mounted in the other leg of the support 104. The shaft member 99 carries a sprocket wheel or gear 100 coupled through the agency of a chain 101 to a further sprocket wheel 102. This sprocket wheel 102 transmits the driving force via a shaft 103 to the bevel gear arrangements 105, 107 provided with the shaft 106, wherein the last bevel gear of the bevel gear train 107 is seated upon the shaft 60 of the sprocket wheel 61.

It will be understood that the transmission ratio again is selected in such a manner that the speed of revolution or peripheral velocity C, of the chain 62 is greater by the reciprocal of the cos 0: than the speed of revolution or peripheral speed C of the entrainment band 37.

FIG. 6 further illustrates a gripper arrangement 118 which is pivotably mounted at the rear face of the slide track 90 about a horizontal shaft disposed transverse to the revolving path of travel of the compartments. In the illustration of FIG. 6, the gripperarrangement 118 is depicted in its open position.

Instead of using an opening wedge mechanism 68 of the type discussed in conjunction with the embodiments of FIGS. 1 to 4, in this embodiment there is provided a rotating wedge sector 108 seated'upon a driven arrangement consisting of the contact arm 24 and the conveyor band 4 becomes effective in' a conveying sense, The newspaper Z is thus displaced from the left towards'the right into the opening compartment 82 travelling along therewith. As soon as the newspaper Z has entered this opening compartment 82, it arrives at the operable zone of the contact arm 63 and the entrainment band member 37. This much of the opera-' tion has been clearly depicted in FIG. .6.

As best observed by referring to FIG. 7, there the contact arm 63 as well as the contact arm 24 has arrived at the end of the corresponding revolving path of travel near the newspapers. Hence the newspaper Z is now completely displaced into the opening compartment 82 and, furthermore, it has been divided into two sections Z and 2 by the contact arm 63, the newspaper section Z having been bowed out, resulting in the presence of a wedge-shaped gap. Into this gap the opening wedge 108 begins to engage, at the height of which in the meantime the relevant opening compartment has been displaced. This has been shown clearly in FIG. 7. I

A short time thereafter, there results the condition of operation depicted in FIG. 8. Here, the opening wedge 108 completes the opening operation, the contact arms 24 and 63 are located externally or outside of the region of the newspaper Z the gripper arrangement 118.

has been brought by a suitable actuating mechanism, for instance, a non-illustrated cam control into its closed position and fixedly retains the newspaper portion Z Shortly thereafter, as indicated best by referring to FIG. 9, the insert B moves along a conveying track 113 and into the open newspaper 2,, which, in the meantime, has been released by the further rotating opening wedge. Thereafter, the gripper arrangement 118 is opened, and the support plates 91 are rocked into their ineffectual non-support position since the control pins 94 bear against stops 114. Consequently, the paper which now has been provided with the insert has the bottom support thereof actually dropping-out" and the paper thus falls,'with its fold leading, downwardly out of tee opening pocket 82, into a position where it can be conveniently handled by a nonillustrated conveying mechanism, or other handling device.

While there is shown and described present preferred embodiments of the invention, it is to be distinctly understood that the invention is not limited thereto but may be otherwise variously embodied and practiced within the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

I. An apparatus for opening folded, bound, multisheet paper products comprising conveying means for continuously conveying the paper products at a spacing from one another with the fold disposed substantially parallel to the direction of conveying while the paper products bear against such conveying means, a pair of oppositely disposed driven entrainment means for acting upon opposite flat sides of the paper products, said entrainment means moving through respective paths of travel when acting upon the opposite flat sides of the paper products, said paths of travel defining a plane parallel to the plane of conveying of the products, said paths of travel of said entrainment means enclosing an acute angle with respect to one another and each said path of travel possessing a directional component substantially corresponding to the direction of conveying of the products.

slide track means and said conveyor band extend in a plane inclined through an angle of about to 30 with respect to a vertical plane.

' substantially in the same plane as the conveyor band.

2. The apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein both entrainment means comprise endless revolving entrainment elements frictionally acting upon the paper products.

3. The apparatus as defined in claim 2, further including means for driving said entrainment elements such that one entrainment element is driven in the same direction and with the same speed as said conveying means, while the-speed of the other entrainment element is larger by the reciprocal value of the cosine of the acute angle.

4. The apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein the length of the revolving entrainment elements is less than the length of the conveying means.

5. The apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said conveying means comprises an endless revolving conveyor band arranged between a slide track means and 'an impact rail and against which. bear the paper products, and means for rendering said conveyor band effective in a conveying sense at substantially regular time intervals.

6. The apparatus as defined in claim 5, wherein said 8. The apparatus as defined in claim 7, wherein said slide track means is provided with a raised portion at the region of the infeed location of said one entrainment band against which ride the paper products in order to be knicked in the conveyin direction.

.9. The apparatus as defined m c arm 7, wherein said one entrainment element situated substantially in the plane of the conveyor band comprises an endless entrainment band member.

10. The apparatus as defined in claim 9, wherein said other entrainment element comprises anendless driven traction. element operably associated with said one endless entrainment banddisposed in the plane of the conveyor band, said endless driven traction element being arranged at an acute angle with respect to said one entrainment band, said endless traction element carrying at least one press arm member serving to press the paper products againstthe travelling said one entrainment band and for displacing a part of each paper product contacted thereby substantially transverse to the conveying direction thereof.

1 l. The apparatuses defined in claim 5, wherein said means rendering said conveyor band effective in a conveying sense comprises press roller means operatively associated with the conveyor band, an endless traction element disposed opposite said conveyor band at which said press roller means are secured at a substantially uniform spacing from one another, saidpress roller means serving to press the infed paper productsagainst the travelling conveyor band. 1

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1. An apparatus for opening folded, bound, multisheet paper products comprising conveying means for continuously conveying the paper products at a spacing from one another with the fold disposed substantially parallel to the direction of conveying while the paper products bear against such conveying means, a pair of oppositely disposed driven entrainment means for acting upon opposite flat sides of the paper products, said entrainment means moving through respective paths of travel when acting upon the opposite flat sides of the paper products, said paths of travel defining a plane parallel to the plane of conveying of the products, said paths of travel of said entrainment means enclosing an acute angle with respect to one another and eacH said path of travel possessing a directional component substantially corresponding to the direction of conveying of the products.
 2. The apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein both entrainment means comprise endless revolving entrainment elements frictionally acting upon the paper products.
 3. The apparatus as defined in claim 2, further including means for driving said entrainment elements such that one entrainment element is driven in the same direction and with the same speed as said conveying means, while the speed of the other entrainment element is larger by the reciprocal value of the cosine of the acute angle.
 4. The apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein the length of the revolving entrainment elements is less than the length of the conveying means.
 5. The apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said conveying means comprises an endless revolving conveyor band arranged between a slide track means and an impact rail and against which bear the paper products, and means for rendering said conveyor band effective in a conveying sense at substantially regular time intervals.
 6. The apparatus as defined in claim 5, wherein said slide track means and said conveyor band extend in a plane inclined through an angle of about 5* to 30* with respect to a vertical plane.
 7. The apparatus as defined in claim 5, wherein each said entrainment comprises an endless revolving entrainment element, and including means for driving said entrainment elements such that one entrainment element is driven in the same direction and with the same speed as said conveying means, while the speed of the other entrainment element is larger by the reciprocal value of the cosine of the acute angle, and wherein said one entrainment element revolving in the same directional sense with the conveyor band is situated substantially in the same plane as the conveyor band.
 8. The apparatus as defined in claim 7, wherein said slide track means is provided with a raised portion at the region of the infeed location of said one entrainment band against which ride the paper products in order to be knicked in the conveying direction.
 9. The apparatus as defined in claim 7, wherein said one entrainment element situated substantially in the plane of the conveyor band comprises an endless entrainment band member.
 10. The apparatus as defined in claim 9, wherein said other entrainment element comprises an endless driven traction element operably associated with said one endless entrainment band disposed in the plane of the conveyor band, said endless driven traction element being arranged at an acute angle with respect to said one entrainment band, said endless traction element carrying at least one press arm member serving to press the paper products against the travelling said one entrainment band and for displacing a part of each paper product contacted thereby substantially transverse to the conveying direction thereof.
 11. The apparatus as defined in claim 5, wherein said means rendering said conveyor band effective in a conveying sense comprises press roller means operatively associated with the conveyor band, an endless traction element disposed opposite said conveyor band at which said press roller means are secured at a substantially uniform spacing from one another, said press roller means serving to press the infed paper products against the travelling conveyor band. 